Captured terrorist wants legal aid from Pakistan government

Mumbai, Dec 13 (IANS) Captured Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab has sought the Pakitan government’s help in fighting his case after lawyers here refused to defend him, a top police official said Saturday.Mumbai’s Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria said Amir’s letter addressed to the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi had been forwarded by the Mumbai police to the central government.

Amir is also understood to have requested Pakistan authorities to take charge of the body of his associate Ismail Khan, who was killed in a shootout with police early Nov 27, Maria told mediapersons here.

Amir is the only one among the 10 terrorists who struck Mumbai Nov 26 night to have been captured. India has maintained all of them had come from Pakistan, though Islamabad doubts the claim and has demanded more evidence.

Mumbai lawyers have unanimously decided not to represent Amir. When his case came up for hearing last week, even a lawyer appointed by the Maharashtra Legal Aid Centre refused to take up his case.

Amir is currently in police custody till Dec 24 and lodged at the Mumbai police headquarters lock-up under high security.

In another startling development, police have confirmed that the deadly RDX explosive was used to blast two cabs during the attacks.

Samples from the wreckage of the cabs were examined by the Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Kalina in northwest Mumbai.

While one cab was blasted at Vile Parle on the Western Express Highway, barely a kilometre from Mumbai airport, another was blown off in Mazagaon, south-central Mumbai, barely a kilometre from the high-security Mumbai docks area.

Four persons were killed in the two cab blasts and two others injured.

The Mumbai attacks left at least 170 people, including 26 foreingers dead.